1630 – In Boston the 1st general court is held.
1765 – Stamp Act Congress meets in NY, writes the Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
1870 – 1st African Americans (4) elected to US House of Representatives.
1914 – US post office 1st used an automobile to collect & deliver mail.
1915 – US bankers arrange a $500 million loan to the British and French.
1919 – 1st US Distinguished Service Medal awarded to a woman – Anna Howard Shaw.
1926 – John C. Garand patents semi-automatic rifle.
1944 – US forces land in Philippines.
1951 – US President Harry Truman formally ends state of war with Germany.
1957 – “Damn Yankees” closes at 46th St. Theater, NYC after 1,022 performances.
1963 – Beatles record “I Want to Hold Your Hand”.
1968 – Golden Gate Bridge charges tolls only for southbound cars.
1971 – Last issue of “Look” magazine is published.
1975 – “Chorus Line” opens at Shubert Theater NYC for 6137 performances.
1977 – Supersonic Concorde jet’s 1st landing in NYC.
1983 – Senate establishes Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday.
1987 – “Black Monday” Dow Jones down 508.32 points (22%), 4 1/2 times previous record.
1995 – “Hello Dolly!” opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC for 118 performances.
2005 – Hurricane Wilma becomes the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record with a minimum pressure of 882 mb.
2015 – US scientists from University of California find evidence life on earth may have begun 4.1 billion years ago, 300 million earlier than previously thought.